THERE are many ships sailing the ocean, and there is one thing about them all, which is, they are all making for some definite port.
Man is on the ocean of life, and, like the ships, he too is making for some port. Heaven or hell is the port each one is making for.
We will use the ships figuratively, and may our God speak to us, as we go along, as to which ship we are on board of, and the port we are making for. We are surely going on toward the shores of eternity, to the harbor of rest and peace and joy, where the Lord Jesus is, or “to the outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
“There go the ships.” Yes, they are going; and they reach a definite end. And so will you and I, dear reader.
Ships have a name, and the first ship we have to notice is called, Our own Righteousness. The winds that waft her across the seas are self-confidence and ignorance of God’s righteousness. Her captain’s name is Works. He goes by the chart of Do the best you can, and you will reach heaven at last. Many embark on board this ship, for she is considered very reliable. Publicans and harlots are not admitted on board. Her captain would be shocked at such a thought. Every Sunday he discourses on perseverance in the performance of good works for salvation. The crew are reminded that they must gain the favor of God by following in the footsteps of Jesus, and the ship’s company are assured, after the dispensing of the sacrament, that they are perfectly safe. In addition to this, the sacrament is given every time a storm appears, which quiets all fears. And so the ship sails along.
But news comes that she encountered a terrific storm, was driven upon the rocks, and every soul on board was lost.
Moral: “He that trusteth to his own heart is a fool” (Prov. 28:2626He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered. (Proverbs 28:26)). “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us” (Titus 3:55Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; (Titus 3:5)). “To him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness” (Rom. 4:55But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. (Romans 4:5)). “Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Eph. 2:99Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:9)). “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Matt. 9:1313But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. (Matthew 9:13)). “We are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away” (Isa. 64:66But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. (Isaiah 64:6)).
“There go the ships.” The next ship’s name is Atheism. Her captain’s name is Intellect, the wind that speeds her along is Human Will, and her chart is Freethought. It is not a very large ship this, but by those who embark thereon is considered safe. She is well painted, catches the eye, elates the mind, and everything on board appeals to the pride and self-will of man. There is not a Bible on board. Tom Paine, Ingersoll, Byron, &c. &c., are the writers the most prized by those who sail in this ship.
But she encounters fogs, loses her way in the pathless sea, gets drawn into a fearful whirlpool, and every soul on board perishes. A vessel, passing at some distance in the darkness of the night, hears a cry, “O God, have mercy on us!” But it was too late, all were lost!
Moral: “The fool path said in his heart, There is no God” (Psa. 14:11<<To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.>> The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. (Psalm 14:1)). “Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; but ye have set at naught all my counsel, and would none of my reproof; I also will laugh at your calamity, and mock when your fear cometh.... Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me” (Prov. 1:24-3324Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; 25But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: 26I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; 27When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. 28Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: 29For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord: 30They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. 31Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. 32For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. 33But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil. (Proverbs 1:24‑33)).
“There go the ships.” The next ship is called Infidelity. Her captain’s name is Know-everything, the wind that fills her sails is Logical Argument, and her chart The sayings of great men. Numerous are the passengers on board this well-proportioned ship. Her hull is large, her masts high, her sails great. They believe in a God, but don’t admit that He has given its a revelation. With them the Scriptures are not the Word of God. So the captain preaches every Sunday. He discourses on many subjects; his arguments are logical; his diction faultless; his eloquence charming; his personal appearance attractive; and his sermons conclusive and most satisfactory to all on board. Thus she proceeds on her voyage.
But having discarded the only chart, the Word of God, that guides to the port of heaven, she loses her way among the rocks and quicksands, and one night in a howling storm she was wrecked, and nothing more was heard of her afterward; and all that was left to tell the tale was a piece of the wreck with Infidelity marked on it.
“There go the ships.” The next is a very large ship containing many souls. Her name is The Way of Cain. Her captain’s name is Hater of the Blood of Christ, the wind that sends her through the deep is Intellectuality, and her chart is Carnal reasoning on the Sacred Scriptures. The creed of all on board is, “If I can’t go to heaven by my good works, I don’t want to go there at all.”
Her captain has a good name, discourses ably on the goodness of man, and never loses an opportunity of speaking slightingly of the blood of Christ, and assures his hearers that he is convinced that they are safe. Many of the great and noble of earth are there. The air of intellectuality is on board. The ship is kept in good order, she is well painted, the decks are kept clean with a soap called Morality, and according to outward appearance everything is all right.
But appearances are deceitful. In a heavy sea paint is no good, and when you come to the “swellings of Jordan” the soap of Morality will not avail much; and when you have discarded the divine glory of Jesus the Son of God and His atoning blood, what will all the able and eloquent discourses of Captain Hater of the Blood of Christ do for you?
This ship encounters a frightful gale in the open sea. Her qualities are fairly tested, but not one of them stands the test. She was engulfed in the mighty ocean, and from the captain down, all were lost.
Moral: “He that denieth the SON, the same hath not the Father” (1 John 2:2323Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also. (1 John 2:23)). “If ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.” “Whither I go ye cannot come” (John 8:21-2521Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come. 22Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself? because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come. 23And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world. 24I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. 25Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning. (John 8:21‑25)). “If we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the spirit of grace” (Heb. 10:26-2926For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 27But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. 28He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: 29Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? (Hebrews 10:26‑29)). “Without shedding of blood is no remission” (Heb. 9:2222And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. (Hebrews 9:22)).
“There go the ships.” We will speak of one more, though there are many that we could speak of bearing different names. While there is not much to take the eye about this ship, yet there is the look of security about her. She is built in view of rough weather, to ride out the storms and reach the haven of rest in safety.
Her name is “The Salvation of God,” her Captain’s name is “The Son of God,” the wind that wafts her through the deep “the power of the Holy Ghost,” her chart is the “Word of God,” and those who take passage in her “are the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus,” and the port she is destined for is heaven. Every soul on board is a trophy of the grace of God, a brand plucked out of the fire. They have discarded the filthy rags of their own righteousness, and are trusting to Jesus and His blood. They all have on a particular robe, in which they boast, called Divine Righteousness. There is a calm, a peace filling each heart on board, and while there may be storms and gales and hurricanes to encounter, yet they are kept tranquillized by the presence of their great Captain, the Son of God. He is on board, and therefore all is well.
Their chart is unerring. Every rock and shoal and quicksand and shallow is marked, and the great Captain is acquainted with them all. Those on board repose in His wisdom and power and goodness and care. One moment in His presence, one look into His face, one word from His lips settles all. The faintest whisper from Him hushes every fear, and makes strong the weakest heart.
See the flag that floats aloft! On it is written, “The Lord our righteousness.” On and on she sails to the haven of rest. Salvation from the eternal consequences of sin, salvation from the power of sin, salvation from the world and the craft of Satan, are known. Soon she reaches the heavenly harbor, drops her anchor and furls her sails. And how gladly does every soul on board, as he gazes on the heavenly shore and thinks of the dangers all past, say from his inmost being, “What hath God wrought!”
Now in conclusion, beloved reader, let me ask which ship are you on board of? In which have you taken passage for the eternal shore? What is your captain’s name? If not the Son of God, he is not the right one. If on the wrong ship, you may yet change and find yourself with the redeemed of God on board the one whose name is “The Salvation of God,” and whose Captain is the Son of God.
Friend, if on the wrong ship, change at once, before the end is reached, for there is no changing then.
“Why wilt thou linger, why wilt thou die,
God’s wrath upon thee, judgment so nigh?
Now is salvation’s day,
Tread the blood-sprinkled way;
Sinner, no more delay,
Jesus will come!”
E. A.